Allegations of millions of dollars being squandered have put a cloud over the decision to close an Indigenous organisation providing services on a site of significance for Stolen Generations members.

The Beananging Kwuurt Institute community centre in Perth's south-east was established under a Covenant relationship with the Uniting Church Australia and Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) to be a social services arm to directly help Aboriginal people in need.

Located at the old Sister Kate's Children's Home, a site of tragedy and abuse for Aboriginal children and their families, the BKI was given $5.5 million in 2008, along with considerable interest payments, at least $250,000 from the Gibbs Bequest and government grants for several proposed community, social and infrastructure initiatives, none of which were carried out.

A BKI spokesperson told National Indigenous Times that while funding was initially put into the organisation's account "within the year the balance was transferred out of the BKI account and in direct control of Congress".

They said that since 2008, the millions were "systematically squandered with nothing to show for it".

There appears to have been no accountability for the considerable finances, despite Auditor's Reports as far back as 2010 indicating discrepancies.

Buildings on the vast Queens Park property were left in disrepair, while the land was overrun with weeds and rubbish and no basic maintenance undertaken, leaving sewerage to run outside the main building, while another building was severely impacted by white ants, and electrical works were not industry compliant.

The women at BKI said the Church did not intervene ostensibly on the grounds they were facilitating the self-determination of UAICC and its WA regional Congress.

The BKI believes the UAICC and WA regional Congress were given an open cheque book that benefitted only a small number of families.

Once the millions had been used, BKI community members allege the UAICC and WA regional Congress showed no interest in maintaining the property or supporting BKI's services.

BKI claims the WA regional Congress refused repeated requests for meaningful dialogue with the new BKI board, spearheaded by 2023 WA Women's Hall of Fame inductee Katina Law and other Indigenous leaders.

BKI works to provide the Aboriginal community food, clothing, furniture, baby products, yarning and advocacy. BKI's art program is a particular success, with several vulnerable women becoming artists.

BKI has provided workshops to Rio Tinto, the Art Gallery of WA, the City of Canning and World Indigenous Tourism Summit.

"We offer art lessons for connection to Country… through art, we heal and deal with the past, and express our thoughts when words fail," said Bev Burns, spokesperson for some of the BKI women.

BKI is now entirely self-sufficient, having had all its funding withdrawn by the Uniting Church.

The women said BKI provided a safe space for vulnerable people to come together and heal.

"This Aboriginal Congress does not represent our Aboriginal people," one Elder said.

"It is a ridiculous situation that shows no leadership by the UCA (Uniting Church of Australia) and no real commitment to Aboriginal people."

Ms Burns said the situation represented "…abuse of the Elders, abuse of the women and abuse of the very land on which they come together".

The women report that their mental health is being affected by the news that BKI is being shut down, many reporting feelings of anxiety, depression and hopelessness

The Uniting Church told National Indigenous Times Beananging Kwuurt Institute is an agency of the Uniting Church in WA, established in 2007 at the request of, and under the general oversight of, the WA Regional Committee of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC).

"The establishment of BKI was a reflection of the Uniting Church in Australia's Covenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Since 2007 the Board of BKI has been appointed at the recommendation of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress," the spokesperson said.

"The members of the BKI Board were required to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander persons over 18 years of age. The BKI Board throughout the years has been accountable for the governance of the Beananging Kwuurt Institute.

"Despite significant efforts over a long period of time to achieve the vision of BKI, in May 2024 the Uniting Church in WA made the difficult decision, at the request of Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, to suspend the volunteer board. The decision came about as a result of irreconcilable differences between the different parties with responsibility for BKI – the volunteer Board, and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, both its WA Regional Committee and the National Committee."

The Uniting Church WA spokesperson said the volunteer Board were notified of the suspension in May 2024 with an initial closure date of 30 June 2024.

"After further negotiation to allow the operation to make alternate arrangements for some of their programs, an extension was given until 12 December 2024. We are thankful for those who have served BKI since its inception in 2007," they said.

"The land will be secured until the UAICC WA Regional Committee make decisions on its future use."

Cannington Police have charged a person in relation to alleged wilful damage of the power supply, while they are currently investigating the alleged theft of documents earlier this month.

BKI has requested an indefinite extension to stay open so it can continue to deliver the services for which it was established.

The women challenged the UCA to hear their needs, and the needs of the wider community, and offer support.

The site is considered culturally significant by the women as a women's birthing place in pre-colonisation times, and they said it was important the church recognised and adhered to cultural protocols.

This story was updated on 1 November, 2024, to include a detailed response from the Uniting Church.